* In a basic wedding ceremony, the minister has only three main speaking parts: the Invocation, Declaration of Intent, and Pronouncement.

Wedding Ceremony Parts Explained

1Procession Here comes the bride...

The procession marks the beginning of the wedding ceremony with the entrance of the bride.

Ceremony Events

Guests are seated.

The minister and wedding party enter, assuming their places.

Minister Actions

Enter with the wedding party or stand ready at the lectern.

Additional Information

The purpose of the processional is to ensure guests are seated, seat the distinguished guests, and allow the wedding party to take the stage.

Music often accompanies the processional, and typically the wedding party enters in a prescribed order (minister and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen, maid of honor and best man), all prior to the bride.

Traditionally, the bride enters last, accompanied by her father or another person of significance in her life.

6Pronouncement “I now pronounce you…”

Ceremony Events

Minister Actions

Declare that the couple is married.

Tell the newlyweds to kiss!

Additional Information

This is the symbolic binding of the marriage contract.

Many pronouncements begin with the phrase, "By the power vested in me by the State of…" This phrase reflects the fact that marriage is both a spiritual and legal event, and that the authority to solemnize marriage is regulated by the government.

Minister Actions

Additional Information

Additions to the Ceremony

The above outline describes a very straightforward, recognizable version of a wedding ceremony. Many weddings also include additional parts to reflect the beliefs, values, and personal preferences of the couple. Some common additions include:

Blessing - A blessing to the couple can be offered by the minister or a member of the wedding party. Blessings can be religious or secular.

Charge to Couple - Similar to the Declaration of Intent, a charge has the minister emphasize the seriousness of the marital contract to the couple. It is often punctuated by acknowledgements such as, "I agree" or "I understand."

Giving of the Bride - The minister calls out to the wedding party and asks who gives the bride in marriage. Traditionally, the father and/or mother of the bride reply that they consent to giving their daughter in marriage.

Prayer - Many religious ceremonies include a prayer given by the minister.

Readings - Poems, religious texts, and/or literary passages can be read by the minister or members of the wedding party.

Sermon - Many religious ceremonies include a sermon given by the minister.

Unity Candle - A unity candle ceremony involves the ceremonial merger of flames. Two candles are lit and the couple joins their individual flames together to light a third candle (representing two lives joined as one). Variations include participation from family, such as candles for children to join in the union of the new family.

Sand Ceremony - Sand ceremonies are a variation of the unity candle symbol. Two vessels of sand are poured together, mixing the sand. Each grain of sand is representative of a thought, feeling, or experience. A common variation is to give each member of the wedding party a small pebble. Each person offers a blessing as they deposit their pebble into a container, which the couple uses to combine their sand.

Remember, there are no limitations! We encourage you to work with the couple to craft a unique ceremony that reflects their wishes.

That's it!

A typical ceremony lasts only 15 - 20 minutes.

Keep it simple and have fun!

This is the format for a basic wedding ceremony. All weddings include these parts however there are many types of ceremonies (candle, hand fasting, etc) that may involve extra duties and speaking parts for the minister. It is your responsibility to coordinate the details of the ceremony with the couple.